Air cooler Noctua NH-U12A CHROMAX.BLACK – 120 mm dual-fan, 158 mm height, compatible with LGA 1200, 2000 RPM max

The Noctua NH-U12A is a 120 mm class CPU cooler designed to deliver high cooling performance with low noise. It pairs a redesigned heatsink with seven heatpipes and an increased fin surface area with two NF-A12x25 PWM 120 mm fans to achieve thermal performance comparable to many 140 mm coolers while keeping classic 120 mm case and PCIe compatibility. The cooler comes with Noctua's SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system, NT-H1 thermal compound and a 6-year manufacturer warranty.

Advantages

The NH-U12A combines a thoroughly optimised 7-heatpipe layout and 37% more fin surface area (vs. NH-U12S) with a dual push/pull fan configuration using Noctua’s NF-A12x25 fans, enabling 140 mm-class performance in a 120 mm footprint. Its asymmetric design ensures 100% RAM compatibility on Intel LGA115x and AMD AM4 motherboards. The heatsink fins are soldered to the heatpipes for long-term thermal reliability, and the included SecuFirm2™ mounting system supports a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets.

Suitable for

• Silent high-performance desktop builds where case space is limited
• Systems that require 120 mm cooler compatibility with PCIe clearance
• Enthusiast or workstation PCs seeking 140 mm-level cooling in a smaller footprint
• Upgrades on Intel LGA115x / LGA20xx and AMD AM4/AM3 platforms

Key specifications

• Fan size: 120 mm (dual NF-A12x25 PWM)
• Maximum fan speed: 2000 RPM (can be reduced to 1700 RPM with Low-Noise Adaptors)
• Airflow: 102.1 m³/h (manufacturer spec for supplied fans)
• Bearing: Self-Stabilising Oil-pressure Bearing
• Dimensions (W×D×H): 125 × 112 × 158 mm
• Weight: 1.22 kg
• Colour: Black
• Supported sockets: Intel LGA115x, LGA20xx (incl. LGA2066), AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+), FM1
• Included accessories: SecuFirm2™ mounting kit, NT-H1 thermal compound, Low-Noise Adaptors
• Warranty: 6 years

How to use

Install the SecuFirm2™ mounting brackets according to the supplied manual for your socket, apply a small, even amount of NT-H1 thermal compound to the CPU heatspreader, and mount the NH-U12A with the fans attached in push/pull configuration if possible. Connect the PWM fan headers to the motherboard for automatic speed control and, if quieter operation is desired, fit the Low-Noise Adaptors to limit maximum RPM. Ensure the cooler clears RAM modules and PCIe slots according to your motherboard layout.

Recommendations

For best results, use automatic PWM control via the motherboard to balance cooling and acoustics, verify RAM height compatibility on LGA2066 systems (rear fan may overhang slots above 42 mm), and periodically check fan connectors and mounting screws for secure fit after prolonged usage.